Handling Poll

[NomadOfTheHills]

Just curious, how often do you handle your BTS?


I find that I normally only take Dwight out every 2-3 weeks or so, although I observe him every day normally for at least 20-30 minutes. He is in an opaque rubbermaid in my room, so its not like I just peer through the glass, I actively sit in my room and watch him, he is very interesting.

[sheslikeheroin]

when hes not brumating i handle hank every day he gets angry and flips his water and recks his decorations till i take him out. also if you say Hanky you want out he starts going nots climbing the side of his cage till i let him out. i cleaned out a room that has nowhere for him to get lost or stuck in just for him to run around and play in.its pretty funny

[jasjmm27]

As my blueys are coming out of brumation I am finding that I have enough time to handle them at least 2-3 times a week. I have five now, so I want to "spread the love". Wish I could handle them more, but that would involve getting them out in the middle of the night...that just feels rude to me!

[mangodude777]

Every day! But when I take them out I don't really handle them. I just pet them,talk to them, and let them explore. And I put them back when they start to make a mess on the carpet.

Also,i have an old bluey book that says ''they need to be out atleast 10 minuts a day.''

[Fatal_S]

I think it would be way to boring to leave them in the tank all the time. My guys actively want to come out. When not brumating, they're out every day at least for feeding, and usually spend an hour or so out every 2 days.

[aggiegirl]

The reason we chose blueys was because of their tolerance for handling by young keepers. We treat our blueys more like lap dogs than reptiles. We hadn't owned other reptiles prior to acquiring our first Northern. As long as weather and brumation permit, they get out almost every day to explore the yard while I do things with the kids or yard maintenance.(Of course I have three kids to round them up! )
I had been told that an advantage of reptiles was that they didn't require walks, etc. However, my blueys will pace in their cages and rear up until I let them out. They also give me "the look." When I first took them outside, they seemed frightened and would display or try to hide. Now, they are curious and like to explore or bask (although they will hide under my lap if something scares them.) There are very few other herps that would permit this type of outdoor excursion. I wouldn't enjoy my guys near as much if I just watched them from inside their enclosure.
As a side note, I would not recommend taking your blueys outside for daily romps if you actually care what your neighbors think!

[mewzic-7123]

now that my skink has become more active i handle him as often as i can, which he really likes 'cause he hasnt gone out much lately because of his brumation, i let him out for a while, as long as he doesnt use the living room as a toilet.

[Herptiles.net]

Indie loves to come out, she's practically clambering out of the cage when I'm getting her bugs and salad ready.

I take her out briefly at feeding time (daily), and every 2-3 days for a while while I'm at the computer.. she loves weaving in and out of the obstacles on my desk.

[Zach]

Yeah, during brumation, not at all (typically not at all anyway). During summer, they all get out at least every other day outside. Usually 5 out one day, the other 5 out the next day. For at least an hour.

[ROBSTA]

my old lizard has never liked to be handled.
he squirms and pees all over you if you hold him for more than 30 seconds

[shingleback aus]

my shingles love coming out ,every day i handle them besides when there brumating

[Geoff Gates]

I would have responded almost never but that was not in the poll.

[zakkhogan]

I personaly dont handel him every day, and due to the climate in the uk (permintly cold and wet) i think its better for him, but he does come out maybe once every week or two, but i am constantly in his tank, poop scooping, changing water, or generally just cleaning up!

[Tattoo]

Every day when not in brunation.

[Leigh]

Once or twice during brumation(if he's up and climbing the sides) when ever the sun is still in the garden after I get home from work, I'll let him roam around or sit on my shoulder to get the last rays before the sun drops behind nextdoors. I do tickle/stroke him when I'm in the room or doing cleaning/feeding jobs. He'll be out in the front room more often now the cats gone.

[Kymbadina]

The reason we chose blueys was because of their tolerance for handling by young keepers. We treat our blueys more like lap dogs than reptiles. We hadn't owned other reptiles prior to acquiring our first Northern. As long as weather and brumation permit, they get out almost every day to explore the yard while I do things with the kids or yard maintenance.(Of course I have three kids to round them up! )
I had been told that an advantage of reptiles was that they didn't require walks, etc. However, my blueys will pace in their cages and rear up until I let them out. They also give me "the look." When I first took them outside, they seemed frightened and would display or try to hide. Now, they are curious and like to explore or bask (although they will hide under my lap if something scares them.) There are very few other herps that would permit this type of outdoor excursion. I wouldn't enjoy my guys near as much if I just watched them from inside their enclosure.
As a side note, I would not recommend taking your blueys outside for daily romps if you actually care what your neighbors think!

I know what you mean. Chomper adapted this new policy of take me out or ill pace around and scale the walls...He wins everytime. But most the time when I get him out he just falls asleep on me. Whatever floats his boat

[SailleSkinklover]

Every day that he's not brumating. I love my buddy, he's my cuddle skink!
The only other time he goes without being handled is if we go out of town for the weekend for some reason, and then, (if he's awake) he gets lovin's before we leave, and when we get home.

[Hockeyrulz48]

I handle almost every day to, like said before if I don't my skink wrecks the cage lol

[Zach]

I would have responded almost never but that was not in the poll.

Do you have like a patio or something that you can just come out on in the early morning and watch them...

I would like something like that someday.

[Geoff Gates]

I would have responded almost never but that was not in the poll.

Do you have like a patio or something that you can just come out on in the early morning and watch them...

I would like something like that someday.

I can see directly into their temporary pit from my upstairs bedroom window. At the moment the pit is placed behind a sandstone rock wall.

I often sit by the pit (or on a large log in the pit) with a cuppa tea/coffee and watch them or hand out a few snails.

Once the (recently landscaped) back garden is established the pit comes down and the lowland blotchies will be free to roam in an area approx 60' x 60 ' (18 metres x 18 metres).

Unfortunately the Alpines will remain in the pit (and brumate in viv's in the garage) as i do not want them to mate with the lowlands.